A Blog by the Editor of The Middle East Journal

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Newly installed Qatari Ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad has named a new Cabinet, with Sheikh ‘Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani as his new Prime Minister and Khalid al-Atiyah as Foreign Minister; both posts were formerly held by Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim ("HBJ"). The critical Energy Ministry is unchanged.

1 comment:

David Mack
said...

A former senior U.S. diplomat with expertise in the GCC states has remarked shrewdly that the transition in Qatar sends useful messages to both the other hereditary Arab leaders and the the U.S. To the former, it reminds them that no leader is indispensable, and all of them will get older and, eventually if not already, less capable. To the U.S. government and other boosters of democracy it sends the message that in some states you can have a peaceful and orderly transition without elections while maintaining political legitimacy.

"Michael Collins Dunn is the editor of The Middle East Journal. He also blogs. His latest posting summarizes a lot of material on the Iranian election and offers some sensible interpretation. If you are really interested in the Middle East, you should check him out regularly."— Gary Sick, Gary's Choices

"Since we’re not covering the Tunisian elections particularly well, and neither does Tunisian media, I’ll just point you over here. It’s a great post by MEI editor Michael Collins Dunn, who . . . clearly knows the country pretty well."— alle, Maghreb Politics Review

"I’ve followed Michael Collins Dunn over at the Middle East Institute’s blog since its beginning in January this year. Overall, it is one of the best blogs on Middle Eastern affairs. It is a selection of educated and manifestly knowledgeable ruminations of various aspects of Middle Eastern politics and international relations in the broadest sense."— davidroberts at The Gulf Blog

"Michael Collins Dunn, editor of the prestigious Middle East Journal, wrote an interesting 'Backgrounder' on the Berriane violence at his Middle East Institute Editor’s Blog. It is a strong piece, but imperfect (as all things are) . . ."— kal, The Moor Next DoorThis great video of Nasser posted on Michael Collins Dunn’s blog (which is one of my favorites incidentally) ...— Qifa Nabki